Innovation and partnership steal the show at the CIWM Environmental Excellence Awards

Tuesday, 15 November 2011 14:58

Matt

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A wide range of companies, public sector organisations and individuals have scooped top honours at the 2011 CIWM Awards for Environmental Excellence. The winners were announced at the Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel yesterday, at an awards ceremony hosted by Alistair McGowan, who praised the waste sector for the work it does in reducing society’s environmental impact and raising awareness.

“Developing a more sustainable approach to waste and resources has never made more sense – both in environmental and economic terms,” says CIWM chief executive Steve Lee. “CIWM is delighted to recognise the achievements of our award winners, who have demonstrated how innovation, commitment and partnership working, and active community engagement can deliver real improvements and behaviour change.”

A wide range of companies, public sector organisations and individuals have scooped top honours at the 2011 CIWM Awards for Environmental Excellence. The winners were announced at the Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel yesterday, at an awards ceremony hosted by Alistair McGowan, who praised the waste sector for the work it does in reducing society’s environmental impact and raising awareness.

“Developing a more sustainable approach to waste and resources has never made more sense – both in environmental and economic terms,” says CIWM chief executive Steve Lee. “CIWM is delighted to recognise the achievements of our award winners, who have demonstrated how innovation, commitment and partnership working, and active community engagement can deliver real improvements and behaviour change.”

2011 WINNERS:

Sustainable Product Development: Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services for its Ecolootion unit, a portable ‘site welfare unit’ (washroom) which is environmentally friendly in design and operation, and can be powered by on-board batteries Sustainable Construction & Demolition Project: John Sisk & Son Ltd for its €120m design and build Mater Campus Hospital Development in Dublin, where a strategic approach was taken from the outset to designing out waste and delivering high levels of recycling Community Recycling Champion: Shropshire Council’s Oak Farm for its Community Composting Scheme, which is run by people with learning disabilities who champion local recycling by encouraging residents to participate in the scheme, as well as in other recycling activities in the village. Sustainable Facilities Management Performance: NIDO Spitalfields for the commitment of the NIDO Student Living team to increasing re-use and recycling by getting staff and students on board, and involving local charities and waste contractor Viridor.Vehicle, Plant and Equipment: BAE Systems for its Hybridrive technology, specially adapted for waste vehicles to reduce emissions and deliver fuel savings. Innovative Practice in Waste Management and Resource Recovery (SME): Brilliant Bins for its disposable feminine hygiene waste bin that is low cost, eliminates the vehicle miles necessary for conventional exchange-bin schemes, and reduces the chemicals, water and energy used for cleaning the bins. Innovative Practice in Waste Management and Resource Recovery: UCL with MITIE for their partnership working to develop a new approach to dealing with the 250 tonnes/year of healthcare and clinical waste from UCL’s 23 teaching and research laboratories, delivering significant environmental and cost benefits. Recycling Performance of the Year (SME): Land Network International Ltd for its work on a ‘closed loop’ approach that recycles urban waste to farm land to produce a crop that is processed into biodiesel and pure plant oil. Recycling Performance of the Year: J & G Environmental Ltd for its ethical approach to industrial waste disposal which has resulted in a 95% recycling rate for the waste it collects including challenging waste streams such as toner powder from the digital print sector. Health and Safety Best Practice: Grundon Waste Management Ltd for a two-year Health & Safety improvement programme to change the culture at every level within the organisation. Communications Campaign: metalmatters for its use of research and consumer testing to develop an effective metals campaign that was successfully piloted with over 60,000 households in two local authority areas. The judging panel for the awards comprised Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Owen Jenkins, director of CIRIA, John Ingham, environment editor of the Daily Express, Steve Agg, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Gemma Clinton, vice chair of LARAC, Wayne Williams of the Health & Safety Executive, CIWM President Derek Greedy and Stephen Didsbury, chair of CIWM’s Education & Training Committee.